Ajanta maps out foray into tourism

Papiya Pattanayak, ET BureauJan 9, 2009, 03.10am IST

RAJKOT: Morbi-based Ajanta Group is set for yet another diversification. The Rs 700-crore group — engaged in manufacturing clocks, vitrified tiles, electric bikes, CFL, electronics items, snacks — is now foraying into tourism.

Keen to promote Saurashtra as a global tourist destination, the group will invest Rs 210 crore to develop Garida village of Rajkot district as a tourist hotspot.

The proposed tourism project intends to attract business executives, tourists and NRIs. "Proposed in Garida village of Rajkot district, the project is first of its kind in Gujarat that will provide water sports, paragliding and horse-riding facilities, along with four-star hotels, mini-golf course and resorts. Apart from attracting tourists, the project will boost medical tourism with ayurvedic and naturotherapy centres," VD Nimawat, general manager (project) of Ajanta Infra-Projects, told ET.

Explaining further he said that the proposed project will also look after the perennial water supply for the nearby villages spread across 300 acres, as check dams will be constructed to create a natural ambience around it. The project will be completed in five years. The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat has already alloated 550-acre of land for the project and the company will ink an MoU in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2009.

Mr Nimawat added that although the company has pledged an investment of Rs 210 crore, it could increase it in future when it incorporates joyrides in helicopter in Garida. The project will provide employment to 250 people.

The project being developed in the vicinity of commercial capital of Saurashta, Rajkot, ceramic hub Morbi, Kutch, Jamnagar and Porbandar, the company is betting big on the business delegates and regular tourists. As per the estimates, Rajkot still has a shortage of 200 rooms, while Morbi sees more than 200 customers visiting the town a day.

It may be mentioned that the group recently forayed into hospitality with its first hotel project in the ceramic town of Morbi at the cost of Rs 7-8 crore. But this time, the group is planning to extend the facilities, including academic centers such as personality development centre, sports academy and cultural academy centre along with religious places.